I remember purchasing this album after hearing the incredible and incendiary warehouse banger Quoth. Expecting more similar music, my delusion was big. It turned out that Quoth was an exception here, if I may put it so. By far the heaviest, rawest and in-your-face piece of music on the album. Beware that back then I had little to no knowledge of Warp's sound and musical tendencies.
Now, not to leave the impression of a biased and pissed off customer, let me reflect upon the rest of the album. The music is not bad at all, ranging from early IDM, ambient, break beat techno, with acid lead segments from time to time. Unfortunately, not much of it sticks out and strikes you like Quoth did to me. Sure it is all quality, and some if it is mighty fine; the haunting melody on Polygon Window taking turns with the memorable acid lead, the forceful and driving opener, the quiet ambience of Quino-Phec.
The rest is skip material in my book. A cool sequence here and there, some occasional playful acid synths and lush pads aside, "Surfing on sine waves" does not have much in store for my ears. For early Richard D. James mind blowing material, I suggest heading right to the Aphex Twin "Classics" release on R & S.
As for Polygon Window, I urge everybody to go check out Quoth, one of the most ferocious tunes he has ever done. My highest recommendation would be buying either the CD Maxi [WAP 33 CD] or the vinyl counterpart [WAP 33], both of which have two astonishing mixes of Quoth, plus two other worthwhile tunes.

When I first bought this record I didn't like it. In fact, I tried to return it but the shop wouldn't have it. Being a fan of more chord based electronica (RDJ's other Ambient works, Black Dog Prod, B12 etc) I had never heard anything like this before. Polygon Window's brooding atmospherics were too moody for me.

I chuckle now in retrospect. Surfing On Sine Waves is a unique body of work. Both its songs and packaging appear deeply inspired by the sea and landscape of Cornwall. The songs are varied in style (warehouse party-shaking Quoth sits alongside woeful songs like UT1 - Dot). But the atmosphere is consistent and mesmerising.

Find some way to buy or borrow this release.

If you are into mainstream or chart music, this may take getting used to and require patience. If you like dance music but don't want to have to move like mad all the time, this is great. A few of the tracks are ambient, while a few are pounding and repetative. As a whole, this early techno album is worth a listen if you are familar with Aphex Twin's work, but might not be the best place to start.

Richard David James has released many albums that could be considered classics but I think this one is certainly on top of that list. Some good dance-floor tracks and some other made-for-headphones tunes makes this album a most complete one. At the time of its original release date, he was still under contract with R&S and well known for the 2 EPs he had release there (Didgeridoo and Xylem Tube) so the fact that this was his 1st LP released on Warp made that album very special to me.

The track 'Quixote' still give me the shivers and reminds me of the good dance-floor moments I had as a DJ...

This is RDJ's return to the classic ambiacid of SAW I. You can hear his progressions into more hardcore acid (Quoth) but also trying to be a little more commercial perhaps (If It Really Is Me). This is a great album. If you like SAWI, you'll love this.

This album is some spectacular eariler Richard D. James works. Some of it shades his future, though all of it is apart of his past styles. My favorite track on here is "Redruth School", and also "Quino-Phec" and "Supremecy II" are quite good.

This is more like it!! More previously unreleased tracks from RDJ is always a good thing...turns out that Portreath Harbour is now my favourite track on this classic album. One of RDJ's premiere achievements, alongside SAWII - now if only he'd agree to a re-release on vinyl....

One of the most deffinative lp's of the 90's; listen to the soaring srings etc...You will not be dissapointed! R D J has produced some stuff in his time, but this does best prove his talent, and more.